Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after this morning’s Supreme Court ruling that The Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic charity, cannot be forced by the government under the Affordable Care Act to provide free contraception to their employees in violation of their religious beliefs.

“This is a decisive win for first amendment freedoms,” said Rep. Hern. “Our Founders sought to establish a government that does not infringe on the religious beliefs and liberties of its people. With this decision from the Supreme Court today, we upheld the idea that no American can be forced by the government to violate their religious beliefs.

“Thanks to one of many unconstitutional provisions in the Affordable Care Act, The Little Sisters of the Poor were forced to provide free contraception to their employees, a direct violation of the organization’s religious beliefs. I am proud to have supported The Little Sisters of the Poor by signing onto an Amicus Brief with over 160 of my colleagues urging support for the First Amendment rights of the Sisters. I join millions of Americans in celebration and relief that those rights were upheld by the Supreme Court today.”

Background Information

The amicus brief can be found here.

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